California received a $1 million federal grant to use in fighting the growing meth problem in the state.

California received a $1 million federal grant to use in fighting the growing meth problem in the state.

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Updated: 7:54 PM PDT Oct 6, 2014

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WEBVTT LYNCH WAS BOOKED INTO THE STANISLAUS COUNTY JAIL. CALIFORNIA JUST GOT A BADLY NEEDED BOOST IN THE FIGHT AGAINST METH. A FEDERAL OFFICIAL ANNOUNCED IN SACRAMENTO TODAY A $1 MILLION GRANT THAT WILL PAY FOR SPECIALIZED METH-FIGHTING TEAM. SHAROKINA SHAMS TELLS US WHAT THAT TEAM WILL DO. A NEW SIX-PERSON TEAM OF STATE AGENTS WILL GO AFTER DRUG LABS LIKE THIS ONE AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM. IT WILL BE PUT TOGETHER HERE AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AN AGENCY WHOSE BUDGET WAS DECIMATED BY CUTS THREE YEARS AGO. WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, THIS WAS JUST A CALIFORNIA PHENOMENON. UNFORTUNATELY, METHAMPHETAMINE HAS SWEPT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND OFFICIALS SAY THE SMUGGLING FROM MEXICO IS WORSE THESE DAYS. WHY? WHEN INGREDIENTS WERE TAKEN OFF THE SHELVES IN CALIFORNIA, LOCAL MANUFACTURES DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH OF WHAT THEY NEEDED TO MAKE METH, SO FOREIGN TRAFFICKERS STEPPED IN. STATE OFFICIALS SAY METH IS NOW MORE PURE AND CHEAPER THAN EVER BEFORE. YOUR SIMPLE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES WILL TELL YOU, ANYTIME YOU HAVE A QUANTITY WHICH IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AND VERY GOOD IN QUALITY AND VERY LOW IN PRICE, THAT MEANS OUR MARKET IS FLOODED RIGHT NOW. $1 MILLION IS NOWHERE NEAR THE $71 MILLION CUT FROM THE STATE'S LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE FEDERAL AGENCY HANDING OUT THE CASH HOPES THE IMPACT WILL MULTIPLY. AND NOT JUST HAVE AN IMPACT ON METH-RELATED ACTIVITIES BUT CRIME AND VIOLENCE, SO I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE MONEY. AND THAT NEW ANTI-METH TEAM WILL BE BASED OUT OF L.A. THE

$1M grant to go toward special meth-fighting team

California received a $1 million federal grant to use in fighting the growing meth problem in the state.